Once a Doctor, Always a Doctor

เพราะเขามีหัวใจของหมอ

I breezed through this drama -- the acting is top-notch, the script (with one exception) incredibly well-written, and the characters are not only consistent but also multilayered.

First of all: The acting.
There is really nothing to complain about. From the main cast to the small roles, there was no awkward moment or a moment where I would have said that something didn't fit with the character or the scene.
Especially for some of the main cast, whose characters are more of the ambivalent type, they managed to make me like or dislike them, as needed by the respective scene.

The script is overall very neatly written. It gently leads us through the lives of a group of doctors in a Thai hospital; with Doctor Talodgan and his journey through self-doubt and grief at the centre, and several other story lines around him, some just an episode long, others are weaved through more than half of the total runtime.
There is a set-up of an important plot point right at the beginning, and then, especially after episode 5, more and more story lines are gently introduced. There is a lot going on between episodes 6 and 14 -- but somehow the drama never feels crowded or rushed; on the contrary, there is a lot of space to work through the emotions we feel together with the characters as well as space to breathe between events.
The story picks up pace in the last two episodes, where the crime plot and its fall-out come to the forefront and the secrets of the past are revealed -- here most of the long-term story lines are tied together into one.
There is one revelation in episode 14 that in my opinion didn't fit the rest of the narrative, as well as a brief dip into a cliche in episode 15, but that is overall negligible.

"เพราะเขามีหัวใจของหมอ -- Because they have the heart of a doctor" is at the centre of the drama -- which is question of what it means to "have a doctor's heart", i.e. the ethics of being a medical professional. Around it there are other issues that are discussed by Thai society: for example the influence of social media on public perception or how money, political power and social status are still a deciding factor in whether a person gets preferential treatment in society. I also liked how the drama places importance on mental well-being as part of being healthy, and de-stigmatizes seeking professional help in these matters.

The characters are very consistent -- and most importantly, nobody except for two background (but influential) characters is solely a hero or a villain, not even the hospital director. The script gives every character a reason for their actions and feelings as well as the chance to grow throughout the series. I found this the most obvious for Talodgan's friend and colleague, Tonnam, and for the female intern, Fon.
Relating to that, there were many points where the script could have veered into lakorn territory, with jealousy, love triangle or revenge plots. It didn't.
There is a slight romance arc, but it's more simmering in the background, and even the love confessionss are extremely understated.
Overall, the characters are *adults* and medical professionals and act accordingly.

The medical aspect seems to be very accurate -- given that there are several messages about healthy living, organ and blood donations and other medical issues that are relevant for the average citizen, and that medical ethics are at the centre, it's good that the writers and the director paid a lot of attention to this. I loved how they showed the doctors as professionals, and that there is no more drama in the cases than needed. An normal operation is already tense enough, you don't need extra dramatics.

A last note: The background music was sometimes a bit too sentimental, but I loved the percussion part in tense moments, which sounded a bit like a heart beat.


Was it good?
Yes! It had very tidy writing, and the acting was superb. I liked how they weaved character development, a sound plot and messages to the public into one engaging drama.

Did I like it?
I loved it and finished the whole thing in days. I love the unhurried pace, and how every character has their redeeming qualities. Also, the romance was barely there.

Who would I recommend it to?
To anyone who watches dramas for the characters, who can cope with a pace that takes its time to arrive where it was going, and who doesn't need a blazing romance.

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